❓ Mr. Johnston questions the Minister about the decline in drilling expenditure, attributing it to existing policies. The Minister defends the government's approach, citing commodity prices and market conditions.
AnsweredQoN 238Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
RESOURCES SECTOR — EXPLORATION —
DRILLING POLICIES
238. Mr W.J. JOHNSTON to the Minister for
Mines and Petroleum:
I ask a supplementary question.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Sit down, please. I do not want the wall of noise.
Mr W.J. JOHNSTON :
The minister is saying that he is going to continue with all the same policies
that have seen a 55 per cent reduction in drilling expenditure in this state—as
Albert Einstein said, ''Doing the same thing over and over again and
expecting a different result''. Is that the minister's plan for
the future of this state?
Point of Order
Mr J.M. FRANCIS : Mr Speaker, I refer
you to standing order 77(1)(a), which states that questions should not contain
extracts from newspapers or books, or quotations. The member for Cannington is
quoting Albert Einstein and I would ask you to —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Thank you. Answer
the question, please.
Questions without Notice Resumed
DRILLING POLICIES
238. Mr W.J. JOHNSTON to the Minister for
Mines and Petroleum:
I ask a supplementary question.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Sit down, please. I do not want the wall of noise.
Mr W.J. JOHNSTON :
The minister is saying that he is going to continue with all the same policies
that have seen a 55 per cent reduction in drilling expenditure in this state—as
Albert Einstein said, ''Doing the same thing over and over again and
expecting a different result''. Is that the minister's plan for
the future of this state?
Point of Order
Mr J.M. FRANCIS : Mr Speaker, I refer
you to standing order 77(1)(a), which states that questions should not contain
extracts from newspapers or books, or quotations. The member for Cannington is
quoting Albert Einstein and I would ask you to —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Thank you. Answer
the question, please.
Questions without Notice Resumed
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Cannington.
He is clearly not understanding. This government is a friend of the mining
sector. I have explained to the member for Cannington that we have depressed
commodity prices and a tight capital market. That has impacted on exploration
and mining in this state. All of us accept that. This state government is
continuing to do what is working for that sector, member; and if it is working
for that sector —
Mr
W.J. Johnston : It is 55 per cent down!
Mr
S.K. L'ESTRANGE : If the member can get out there and help me prop
up commodity prices, I am right there with him. But we know we cannot do that.
Mr
W.J. Johnston interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Cannington!
Mr
S.K. L'ESTRANGE : This government will continue to work on the
excellent projects, through the Department of Mines and Petroleum, to progress mining
and exploration in this state. I support the Department of Mines and Petroleum's
initiatives, and of course we will continue to review those initiatives and
look for new and exciting opportunities to enable the exploration and mining
sectors to be prepared for the next commodity upturn so that we, as a Liberal–National
government, can grasp that opportunity for the benefit of Western Australians
and all Australians.
He is clearly not understanding. This government is a friend of the mining
sector. I have explained to the member for Cannington that we have depressed
commodity prices and a tight capital market. That has impacted on exploration
and mining in this state. All of us accept that. This state government is
continuing to do what is working for that sector, member; and if it is working
for that sector —
Mr
W.J. Johnston : It is 55 per cent down!
Mr
S.K. L'ESTRANGE : If the member can get out there and help me prop
up commodity prices, I am right there with him. But we know we cannot do that.
Mr
W.J. Johnston interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Cannington!
Mr
S.K. L'ESTRANGE : This government will continue to work on the
excellent projects, through the Department of Mines and Petroleum, to progress mining
and exploration in this state. I support the Department of Mines and Petroleum's
initiatives, and of course we will continue to review those initiatives and
look for new and exciting opportunities to enable the exploration and mining
sectors to be prepared for the next commodity upturn so that we, as a Liberal–National
government, can grasp that opportunity for the benefit of Western Australians
and all Australians.
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